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Caves
The Yucatan Peninsula is a porous limestone shelf with no above-ground
rivers or lakes. Instead there are underground rivers, lakes, sinkholes
and caves. The caves of the Yucatan were sacred places for the Mayan
and are impressive places to visit. When visiting the caves it is
important to ALWAYS enter with a guide.
Lol Tun Caves
This name is derived from two Mayan words, LOL (flower) and
TUN (stone). Located in the hilly Puuc region, 66 miles from Merida,
these are the largest caves on the peninsula. They are also the
ones that are the most studied. Evidence has been found here of
human contact going back 7,000 years. Mammoth bones have been found
in the caves, along with fresco paintings on the walls, "hands
in negative", faces, animals, grecos and decorative figures.
The caves will amaze and delight even the most jaded traveler, and
are a special treat for children. A special feature in these caves
are the columns that can be "played" like musical instruments.
When struck with the flat side of one's fist, they strike two deep
and beautiful bell-like tones. The caves seem to go on forever,
and have not been fully and completely explored, even to this day.
Your tour will take you from cathedral like underground spaces,
to dry river beds, beautiful glittering stalagmites that look like
frozen fountains, and much more.
The guided tours in Spanish are at 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 3:30 PM
and in English at 11:00 AM and 2 PM daily.
Calcehtok Caves
Also known as Actun Spukil, these are also very large caves, the
second largest after Loltun. The name is derived from the Mayan
words CAL(neck), CEH(deer), and TOK(stone).
These caves have a complicated series of tunnels making it obligatory
to use a guide. Within the caves there is a great amount of pre-hispanic
findings like intact plates, quartz hammers, arrow tips, stone sculptures,
obsidian knives, human burials sites and holtuns (stone cisterns
for water collection). Within the chambers you will see natural
formations that resemble different objects such as waterwalls, elephants,
faces, animals, etc. Around the Calcehtok area there are about 30
caves and it is suspected that they connect.
Balancanche Caves
Located 6 kilometers from Chichen Itza, these caves were an important ceremonial site for the Mayan. There are impressive stalagtite and stalagmite formations inside.650 feet from the entrance is the "Balam
Throne," an altar where it is believed the Mayan celebrated
some type of ceremony.
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 Stalactites meet stalagmites to form natural columns.
In this same chamber there is a 20 foot tall
grand stalagmite formation that resembles a ceiba tree, the
sacred tree of the Maya. It is said to be the "sacred tree
inside the earth." Many ceremonial objects can be seen at the
outdoor museum located next to the entrance.
There is a light and sound show relating the history of these caves
that has been incorporated into the cave tour.
Tzabnah Caves
Located 25 miles south of Merida in the village of Tecoh (Tee-ko').
The name Tzabnah (Zob'-na) is Mayan and means "The Kings Palace".
There are stalagtites, stalagmites, columns, deep crevices and thirteen
cenotes within the caves. On the route within the caves, there is
a huge chamber known as the "Cathedral Cupula" that oddly
enough resembles the Cathedral of Merida. Legend has it that a Mayan
prince and the princess that had been kidnapped escaped to these
caves and were lost. You can visit these caves at any hour as there
is always someone there to guide you.
For first hand accounts of adventures in these caves, check out
our Day Trips page.
More interesting articles
 Cenotes, wonderful undeground caves.
Day Trips.
Puuc Route
Visit our map
Map of Yucatan Peninsula
Events & Activities Calendar
Click Here for a complete description of the activites, events and attractions in the Yucatan.
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To read in Spanish
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